About

My name is Lorie Perrone. I call myself a professional amateur wine expert. I think it is an apt description to sum up my credentials. I have been paid as an independent wine consultant for several years, worked in the industry for an importer and retailer, which sums up the professional part. As for as my expertise, I devour every available resource. To me, wine is like the game of golf (though I admit that I do not play). Once the bug catches you it becomes a lifelong pursuit of personal improvement. My goal is to taste as many different wines as I can and continue to learn more about them along the way. To that end, I did earn my Wine Century certificate for having tasted over 100 different varietals. I’m working on the next century as you read this.

I am a member of the Society of Wine Educators in pursuit of my CSW (certified specialist in wine). In 2011 I received a scholarship to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, VA., and went on to attend the conference again in Portland, OR., and then again in one of my favorite places, the Finger Lakes, NY. Those experiences were extraordinary, and I am eternally grateful to the Wine Bloggers Conference and the scholarship committee that year. I was able to bond with a community of like-minded individuals and made incredible friendships with people all over the country. I was in awe of the wine knowledge all around me and yet felt as if I did really belong amongst them and had something to contribute.

The scholarship and conference allowed me to increase my wine knowledge and network with people in the industry, make new friends, and open up opportunities for which I will be forever grateful. In 2011 I left a 20+ year career in the newspaper industry and began again the search for what to be when I grow up. With a lifetime of advertising copywriting, freelance assignments, social media skills, and wine knowledge I hope to make a positive contribution to the education of new wine enthusiasts. My wine writing attributes include the Palate Press, Examiner.com, Fruit Growers News.

I am a strong advocate for the direct-to-consumer wine shipping movement and closely follow and support Free the Grapes, a non-profit advocacy group trying to abolish outdated laws that pretend to protect the consumer but really protect the three-tier system that has been in place since Prohibition.

I am proud to belong to an amazing group of talented women called Women Wine Writers. We pool resources to help and support each other’s work. We all come from different paths and experiences. Some of us write reviews, or work in the industry, or public relations. Some of us have completely different professional backgrounds. You can find women who are great at writing about wine from a scientific point of view, some more experiential. Any one of us can recommend a member or the entire group to further your own marketing, promotional, or educational needs.

The locavore and shop local movements are also very important causes to me. We should all support out local economies. It is a best practice for everyone. I assist several small businesses with their digital and social media footprint as a means to grow community. Contact me if you are in need of such assistance.

I am available to conduct private in-home wine tastings, tastings for charitable events and fundraisers, corporate appreciation events, seminars, and guided wine trail tours. I love to be invited to pour at wine events. Email me at winingways@verizon.net or loriepblog@gmail.com. Profiles available online: